Accessory device for low and medium voltage switching devices

Abstract

Accessory device for a low or medium voltage switching device including an outer housing, first electrical connection means adapted to electrically connect the accessory device with an auxiliary power line and first mechanical connection means adapted to mechanically connect the accessory device with a mechanical support component of the switching device. The accessory device includes a power line communication unit electrically connectable with the auxiliary power line through the first electrical connection means and adapted to communicate with outer electronic equipment electrically connected with the auxiliary power line by transmitting and receiving communication signals along the auxiliary power line.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An accessory device for a low or medium voltage switching device comprising an outer housing, first electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with an auxiliary power line feeding electronic components of an electric power distribution grid, first mechanical connection means including first coupling portions of said outer housing adapted to mechanically connect with corresponding mechanical coupling portions of mechanical support components of said switching device wherein it comprises a power line communication unit electrically connectable with said auxiliary power line through said first electrical connection means and capable of communicating with outer electronic equipment electrically connected with said auxiliary power line by transmitting and receiving communication signals along said auxiliary power line, said communication signals being analog AC signals travelling at high frequencies and overlapped with feeding voltages and currents provided by said auxiliary power line. 
     
     
       2. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , which further comprises an internal power line electrically connecting said power line communication unit with said first electrical connection means, said power line communication unit being configured to transmit and receive said communication signals through said internal power line and said first electrical connection means. 
     
     
       3. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , wherein said power line communication unit comprises a first processing module and a power line interface module operatively coupled with said first processing module and electrically connected with said auxiliary power line. 
     
     
       4. The accessory device, according to  claim 3 , which further comprises an additional processing unit operatively coupled with said power line communication unit, said additional processing unit comprising a second processing module operatively coupled with said first processing module and a bus interface module operatively coupled with said second processing module. 
     
     
       5. The accessory device, according to  claim 4 , wherein said first processing module and said second processing module operate respectively as a slave device and a master device, or vice-versa, when interacting one with another. 
     
     
       6. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , which further comprises second electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with one or more further accessory devices of said switching device. 
     
     
       7. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , which further comprises third electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrical connect said accessory device with one or more electronic components of said switching device. 
     
     
       8. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , which further comprises second mechanical connection means comprising second coupling portions of said outer housing adapted to mechanically connect with corresponding coupling portions of a further accessory device for said switching device. 
     
     
       9. The accessory device, according to  claim 1 , wherein said first electrical connection means are additionally adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with an external communication bus. 
     
     
       10. The accessory device, according to  claim 5 , which further comprises second electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with one or more further accessory devices of said switching device; and
 wherein said bus interface module is operatively coupled with said second electrical connection means. 
 
     
     
       11. The accessory device, according to  claim 9 , wherein said bus interface module is operatively coupled with said first electrical connection means by means of a first internal communication field bus. 
     
     
       12. The accessory device, according to  claim 5 , which further comprises third electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrical connect said accessory device with one or more electronic components of said switching device; and
 said bus interface module is operatively coupled with said third electrical connection means by means of a second internal communication field bus. 
 
     
     
       13. A switching device which further comprises an accessory device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. The switching device, according to  claim 13 , which further comprises a switching unit having an outer casing provided with a first external supporting surface, said accessory device being arranged on said external supporting surface. 
     
     
       15. The switching device, according to  claim 13 , which further comprises a switching unit and a supporting frame, into or from which said switching unit can be inserted or withdrawn, said accessory device being arranged on a second external surface of said supporting frame. 
     
     
       16. An electric power distribution grid comprising a switching device, outer electronic equipment not included in said switching device and an auxiliary power line adapted to feed one or more electronic components of said switching device and said outer electronic equipment, wherein said switching device comprises an accessory device, according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       17. The accessory device, according to  claim 2 , wherein said power line communication unit comprises a first processing module and a power line interface module operatively coupled with said first processing module and electrically connected with said auxiliary power line. 
     
     
       18. The accessory device, according to  claim 17 , which further comprises an additional processing unit operatively coupled with said power line communication unit, said additional processing unit comprising a second processing module operatively coupled with said first processing module and a bus interface module operatively coupled with said second processing module. 
     
     
       19. The accessory device, according  claim 2 , which further comprises second electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with one or more further accessory devices of said switching device. 
     
     
       20. The accessory device, according  claim 2 , which further comprises third electrical connection means comprising a socket or a plug adapted to electrical connect said accessory device with one or more electronic components of said switching device. 
     
     
       21. An accessory device for a low or medium voltage switching device comprising an outer housing, first electrical connection means adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with an auxiliary power line and first mechanical connection means adapted to mechanically connect said accessory device with a mechanical support component of said switching device wherein it comprises a power line communication unit electrically connectable with said auxiliary power line through said first electrical connection means and adapted to communicate with outer electronic equipment electrically connected with said auxiliary power line by transmitting and receiving communication signals along said auxiliary power line, wherein said power line communication unit comprises a first processing module and a power line interface module operatively coupled with said first processing module and electrically connected with said auxiliary power line, and further comprising an additional processing unit operatively coupled with said power line communication unit, said additional processing unit comprising a second processing module operatively coupled with said first processing module and a bus interface module operatively coupled with said second processing module. 
     
     
       22. An accessory device for a low or medium voltage switching device comprising an outer housing, first electrical connection means adapted to electrically connect said accessory device with an auxiliary power line and first mechanical connection means adapted to mechanically connect said accessory device with a mechanical support component of said switching device wherein it comprises a power line communication unit electrically connectable with said auxiliary power line through said first electrical connection means and adapted to communicate with outer electronic equipment electrically connected with said auxiliary power line by transmitting and receiving communication signals along said auxiliary power line, further comprising an internal power line electrically connecting said power line communication unit with said first electrical connection means, said power line communication unit being configured to transmit and receive said communication signals through said internal power line and said first electrical connection means, wherein said power line communication unit comprises a first processing module and a power line interface module operatively coupled with said first processing module and electrically connected with said auxiliary power line, and further comprising an additional processing unit operatively coupled with said power line communication unit, said additional processing unit comprising a second processing module operatively coupled with said first processing module and a bus interface module operatively coupled with said second processing module.